Celtics take a ride on the T’

hey’re leading the NBA in victories, fewest points allowed per game and lowest field-goal percentage by opponents.

There is one other category the Boston Celtics are first in through the opening month of the season — technical fouls.

The 2008-09 Celtics must be making constant-complainer Antoine Walker proud as they’ve been whistled for a league-leading 19 technicals in 15 games. Center Kendrick Perkins tops the NBA with eight, costing him $1,000 apiece.

Walker was first in the league with 23 technicals during the 2002-03 season, his final full year with the Celtics.

Paul Pierce is tied for fourth in the NBA with three techs, the same number called on Coach Doc Rivers. Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe have two apiece while Eddie House has one.

The Celtics have been hit with at least one technical foul in all but four of their games entering tonight’s matchup with the Golden State Warriors at the TD Banknorth Garden (7:35; TV: Comcast SportsNet; radio: WEEI-850 AM).

Seven of the calls against the Celtics — including four on Perkins — have been the result of double technicals after confrontations with an opposing player. The Celtics, with teams trying to knock off the defending champions, have been involved in some chippy games already.

“We initiate a lot of the noise talking,’’ said Perkins. “That’s just how we are. We’ve been like that since last year. That’s how we play. Guys are trying to get at us, so we’re going to try to get at them first.’’

Trash talking took place during last week’s win over the New York Knicks with Quentin Richardson being front and center. Powe and Zach Randolph, who has been since traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, were hit with double techs.

“I use it to get in my opponent’s head,’’ said Pierce. “I don’t use it to start anything. I use it to frustrate my opponent, sort of like what Larry Bird used to do in the day and Michael (Jordan) did.

“I use it more as a tactic. I’m not out there trying to fight anybody or cause any commotion. It’s a strategy I use. I use it in practice sometimes and coach gets mad at me. It’s nothing personal against the other guy. I like everybody in the NBA.’’

Perkins has had conflicts with Jermaine O’Neal of the Toronto Raptors, Johan Petro of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets and Zydrunas Ilgauskas of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

With eight technical fouls, he’s halfway to the limit that triggers an automatic one-game suspension. According to NBA rules, players receive a warning letter after their 12th technical foul and are suspended for a game after the 16th tech of the season. After that, a one-game suspension is issued for every two technicals.

“I’m concerned,’’ said Rivers. “We have to do a better job. You want him to be emotional, but you don’t want him to have what we call ‘emotional sabotage.’

“That’s what happens at times. He has to be able to be emotional, but he can’t allow his emotions to be sabotaged.’’

Rivers said the team is trying to get some of Perkins’ technicals overturned by the league. The latest came when he got tangled up with Toronto’s Chris Bosh while running back on defense after a dunk on Sunday afternoon.

“A lot of double technicals where someone’s saying something to him and he turns around and they give him a double tech, that to me is where the officials have to do their job,’’ said Rivers. “I think it’s easy to just say, ‘Double technical,’ instead of saying, “This guy started it, we’re just going to give you a tech.’

“We’re going to try to get a couple rescinded. It won’t happen, but we’re going to try.’’

The Celtics, who play 10 of their next 14 games at home, have built a reputation around the league for cockiness.

“I like the aggression,’’ said Ray Allen. “It’s like getting a three-second call on defense. You’d rather be leading the league knowing that everybody is coming to help as opposed to nobody is every getting in the lane.

“It’s the same thing with technicals. You know guys are out there and passionate and playing hard. But we’ve got to be smart about it. We don’t have to prove that we’re tough. We just have to prove that we’re good.’’